CA2001214C

CA2001214C - Intraosseous needle assembly

Info

Publication number: CA2001214C
Application number: CA002001214A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Richard J. Melker; Peter F. Gearen; Gary J. Miller; Michael P. Debruyne; Lisa Molitor
Original assignee: Cook Inc; University of Florida
Current assignee: Cook Inc; University of Florida
Priority date: 1988-10-24
Filing date: 1989-10-23
Publication date: 1998-08-18
Anticipated expiration: 2009-10-23
Also published as: AU641825B2; ATE116832T1; GR890100681A; AU8969891A; DK73391A; DK73391D0; DE68920589T2; AU8791191A; AU4485189A; EP0439516B1; GR1000516B; DE68920589D1; ES2018931A6; DK166709B1; JPH0773606B2; IL92097A; IL92097A0; CA2001214A1; EP0439516A1; JPH04505714A

Abstract

An intraosseous needle assembly includes an intraosseous needle having a threaded shaft with an passageway extending substantially therethrough, a solid and pointed tip at one end thereof, the tip having a pair of concave indentations creating cutting edges. At the opposite end of the shaft, or hub, the needle is adapted to couple with an appropriate gripping device. A handle is provided in the shape of a ball knob and is adapted to telescopically and grippingly receive the hub of the needle. The hub and handle are both equipped with mutually engaging torque-transmitting surfaces.

Description

INTRAOSSEOUS NEEDLE ASSEMBL~

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to infusion needles, and more particularly, to an intraosseous infusion needle assembly having a tip adapted to bore directly into the patient's bone.

Background of the Invention In a variety of medical emergencies, the patient's life may hinge upon the ability of the physician or medical attendant to administer a particular fluid into the patient's bloodstream.
In emergency situations such as on the battlefield, at traffic accident scenes or in the emergency room, the patient is often in shock, has low blood pressure, is bleeding profusely and may be thrashing about. Under such circumstances, finding and gaining access to a suitable blood vessel can be all but impossible, the resulting delay in administering drugs to the patient possibly being fatal. In the case of children or infants in any emergency, even the largest veins are so small that they may not be located. Even if located, an infant's largest available vein may be so small that stable infusion access may not be possible.
One alternative to venous access, recently reintroduced, is ~ ~the intraosseous route. The medullary cavity of the long bones .

Z()~ 4 is composed of a rich spongy network of venous sinusoids which drain into a central venous canal. Blood then exits the venous canal by nutrient or emissary veins into the circulation.
Fluids or drugs injected into the medullary area usually diffuse only a few centimeters, enter the bloodstream and reach the heart--all in only about 10 seconds from injection into the medullary cavity. The current intraosseous infusion procedure uses a hollow needle having a beveled top and a trocar or stylet. With the stylet telescopically positioned within and extending partially out the bevelled end of the needle, the needle and trocar assembly is forceably and perpendicularly advanced against and through the desired bone until the cortex has been punctured and the needle and trocar tip has advanced into the medullary space. The trocar is withdrawn, leaving the open end of the needle directly in the rich vascular network.
Various complications, however, have made intraosseous infusion a less than ideal option. Although the needle and trocar assembly have a sharp, pointed tip, the medullary cavity may not be able to be penetrated under normal pressure. Too much force in trying to puncture the bone sometimes results in a bent needle, a broken needle, splintering of the bone, sliding off the bone and puncturing adjacent tissue or, more commonly, the needle is accidentally forced through the opposite side of the bone. If the needle is properly inserted into the medullary cavity, movements by the patient can easily dislodge --Z~ t4 the needle or cause it to be moved so that the end opening is occluded. These complications commonly arise in cases involving intraosseous infusion of infants and children. For persons older than six, the bones are too hard to successfully perform intraosseous infusion without realizing an extremely high incidence of the above complications. The procedure has therefore typically been limited to children less than six years old and only after several attempts have been made to achieve venous infusion.
What is needed is an intraosseous infusion device which decreases the incidence and severity of the above described complications, which is easier to insert and which is more stable once inserted.

2 ~ 4 ~ummary of the Invention Generally speaking, there is provided an lntraosseous needle assembly whlch allows for preclse control and placement of the needle durlng intraosseous infusion procedures.
An intraosseous needle has a threaded shaft with a passageway extending therethrough. At the leading end of the shaft is a solid, pointed tip having a pair of concave indentations which define four cutting edges. The tip is adapted for rapid and precise boring into the bone of adults, children or infants. The shaft further defines a pair of side ports, one located in the valley between the leading or first full thread and the second thread and the other side port located between the second thread and the third thread.
The side ports are located 90~ apart and are both ln communication with passageway of the shaft. A handle in the shape of a ball knob ls adapted for telescoplc and gripping connection to the trailing end of the needle and both the handle and the trailing end of the needle are equipped with mutually engaglng, torque-transmittlng faces.
In accordance wlth the present lnventlon there is provided an intraosseous needle comprising: a one-piece shaft having an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end and a passageway extending from said proximal end toward said distal end; said outer surface of said one-piece shaft being shaped to include a boring tip at said distal end that is capable of borlng into bone when said boring tip is pressed against the bone and said shaft is twisted; said outer surface of said one-piece shaft also being shaped to include a threaded - 2~12~
portion that defines a helical ridgeline which ls interrupted by sald borlng tlp; and at least one slde port through said outer surface ln fluld communlcation with said passageway, sald at least one side port being located in a valley between two adiacent threads of said threaded portion without significantly lnterruptlng sald hellcal rldgellne.
In accordance with the present invention there is further provided an lntraosseous needle assembly, comprlslng:
an intraosseous needle having a threaded shaft havlng first and second opposlng ends and a passageway extending from said first end toward said second end, said second end having integrally formed thereon a boring means for initiating penetration of said shaft into bone, wherein said shaft has at least one openlng proxlmal to sald second end and ln communication wlth said passageway; sald at least one opening includlng a side port ln fluld communlcatlon wlth said passageway and located proxlmally of said boring means, said at least one side port being located ln a valley between two adiacent threads of said threaded shaft without significantly interrupting said helical ridgeline; first coupling means at said first end for coupllng with a gripping element; and a gripplng element havlng a handle and second coupllng means for coupling with sald first coupling means.
In accordance wlth the present lnvention there is further provlded an intraosseous needle comprlslng: a one-piece shaft havlng a longltudlnal axls, a threaded portion, a proximal end, a distal end and a passageway extending from said proximal end partially toward said distal end, said shaft being rlgld relative to bone; said dlstal end belng formed 2 ~ ~ ~ 2 ~ ~

lnto a solld borlng tlp that lncludes at least one cuttlng edge capable of borlng lnto bone when the needle ls twlsted about sald longitudinal axis with said boring tip pressed agalnst the bone; and sald shaft lncludlng at least one slde port ln fluld communlcatlon wlth sald passageway and located proxlmally of sald borlng tlp, sald at least one slde port belng located in a valley between two ad~acent threads of said threaded portion wlthout slgnlflcantly lnterruptlng sald hellcal rldgellne.
In accordance wlth the present lnventlon there ls further provlded an lntraosseous needle, comprlslng: a shaft havlng a plurallty of thread portlons lntegrally made thereon, flrst and second opposlng ends and a passageway extendlng from sald flrst end toward said second end, sald second end havlng a polnted tlp and a plurallty of cuttlng edges for lnltlatlng penetratlon of sald shaft lnto bone, sald cuttlng edges origlnatlng from sald polnted tlp and extendlng a portlon of sald shaft; whereln sald shaft has at least one openlng proxlmal to sald second end and ln communlcatlon wlth sald passageway, sald at least one openlng located ln a valley between two ad~acent thread portlons; and whereln sald threads deflne a hellcal rldgellne, the beglnnlng of sald hellcal rldgellne colnclding at a polnt wlth one of sald plurallty of cuttlng edges, sald polnt belng dlstal from sald polnted tlp, sald one of sald cuttlng edges termlnatlng at sald polnt wlth sald hellcal rldgellne, sald hellcal rldgellne lntegral wlth sald cuttlng edge and sald shaft at sald polnt.
It is an ob~ect of the present lnventlon to provlde - 5a -an lmproved lntraosseous needle which reduces the lncidence and severlty of the compllcatlons attendant ln current procedures and devlces.
It is another ob~ect of the present lnventlon to provlde an lntraosseous needle whlch ls easy to use.
It ls stlll another ob~ect of the present lnventlon to provlde an lntraosseous needle whlch ls more stable once lnserted.
Further ob~ects and advantages of the present lnventlon wlll become obvlous from the followlng descrlptlon of the preferred embodlment.

- 5b -- zn~ 4 Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a plan view of an intraosseous needle of an intraosseous assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a fragmented plan view of the needle of FIG. 1 which has been rotated 90~ about its axis.
FIG. 3 is a plan view, partly in section, of a handle and intraosseous needle of the intraosseous needle assembly of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the handle of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a front end view of the intraosseous needle of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic side view of the proximal tibia showing the preferred access site of the present invention.

znn~?~4 -Description of the Preferred Embodiment For ~he purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown an intraosseous needle 10 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Needle 10 includes a hub 11, a threaded shaft 12 and boring means. In the preferred embodiment, the boring means is a fluted pencil point tip 13 and there are sixteen buttress threads 15 per inch on shaft 12. The lead angle or helix angle ~ is defined as the angle formed by a plane ~indicated at 17) drawn tangent to the pitch helix and a plane (indicated at 18) normal to the axis 21 of threaded shaft 12. The leading and trailing thread surfaces are indicated at 18 and 19, respectively. The trailing thread angle a (not shown) is defined here as that angle formed by a plane (indicated as 20) drawn tangent to trailing thread surface 19 and plane 18 normal to axis 12. -Trailing thread ~ n ~ 4 angle a ln the preferred embodlment ls equal to the hellx angle O. That ls, plane 17 is parallel to plane 20. As shown ln the embodlment of Flg. 1, tralllng thread angle alpha ls approxlmately 8 degrees, whlle leadlng surface 18' forms an angle wlth normal plane 18 of about 30 degrees. That ls, leadlng and tralllng surfaces 18' and 19 are not parallel.
Hub 11, located at the rearward or tralllng end of threaded shaft 12, forms the female end for connectlon to a conventlonal Luer-type flttlng and lncludes a generally cyllndrlcal portlon 22 and an annular flange portlon 23. A
generally cyllndrlcal sectlon 24 ls located between cyllndrlcal portlon 22 and threaded shaft 12. The dlameters of flange portlon 23 and cyllndrlcal sectlon 24 are approxlmately equal and both are greater than the dlameter of cyllndrlcal portlon 22.
Cyllndrlcal sectlon 24 has a palr of dlametrlcally opposed and mutually parallel flat faces 25. Flange portlon 23 llkewlse has a palr of dlametrlcally opposed and mutually parallel flat faces 26 whlch are coplanar wlth correspondlng flat faces 25. A large dlameter bore 29 ls deflned ln hub 11 and extends from end 30 through cyllndrlcal portion 22 and partlally through cyllndrlcal sectlon 24. Bore 29 receives the male portion of the Luer-type fittlng. A smaller dlameter axlal passageway 31 ls ln communication with bore 29 and extends from bore 29 forwardly through nearly the entire length of threaded shaft 12. A pair of side ports 33 and 34 extend radially outwardly from axial passageway 31 near tlp 13. Slde ports 33 and 34 are located 90~
apart. Slde port 33 opens outwardly ln the valley between the leadlng or first full thread 36 and the second thread 37. Slde port 34 opens outwardly ln the valley between the second thread 37 and the thlrd thread 38.

., zn~lz~.4 Fluted pencil point tip 13 is substantially conical with the conical outer surface 40 forming an angle ~ with axis 21 of approximately 20~. A pair of diametrically opposed flutes 41 and 42 are milled into the end of tip 13 using a ball end mill. The end mill used to cut flutes 41 and 42 is aligned to rotate about an axis which is parallel with axis 21 during the milling process. The foremost end 43 of leading thread 36 is interrupted by the milling process such that leading thread 36 terminates into one of the flutes (42). The milling process thus forms sharp boring edges 44 and 45 between flute 41 and conical surface 40 and sharp boring edges 46 and 47 between flute 42 and conical surface 40. The border between leading thread 36 and flute 42 likewise forms a sharp cutting edge at 43. As shown in FIG. 1, flute 42 is machined further rearwardly than flute 41. In the preferred embodiment, the complete axial length of flute 41 measured from tip 48 is 0.14 inches while the complete axial length of flute 42 measured from tip 48 is 0.16 inches.
A complete intraosseous needle assembly includes, along with intraosseous needle 10, a corresponding gripping means or gripping element which is handle 50 (FIGS. 3 and 4). Handle 50 comprises a plastic ball knob 51 having an axial bore 52. An insert 53 for gripping needle 10 is sized to be tightly received within bore 52. Insert 53 is fixed within bore 52 by appropriate means such.as by~glulng. Insert 53 is adapted to-- zn~ .4 couple with needle 10 and has a central opening 55 which is generally cylindrical with opposing planar faces 56. Opening 55 is sized to receive the complimentary shape of hub 11 with its cylindrical section 24 and opposing flat faces 25. Insert 53 further includes stub 57 which extends forwardly into opening 55. As hub 11 of needle 10 is received within opening 55, stub 57 enters bore 29 of hub 11. Stub 57 is tapered slightly forwardly such that its largest diameter, at its base 58, is the same as or just slightly larger than the inner diameter of bore 29. As stub 57 advances into hole 29, the larger diameter at base 58 of stub 57 wedges within bore 29 forming a snug fit between needle 10 and handle 50. Hub 11, bore 29, opening 55 and-stub 57 are sized to create a mutually snug connection sufficient to cause hub 11 to remain firmly lodged within handle SO but to be removed under a moderate manually applied tensile force.
Alternative embodiments are contemplated wherein the gripping means may be a permanently attached handle or other structure suitable for grasping by the person inserting the needle. The gripping means may also be or include some type of mechanical or electromechanical device which provides the necessary twisting and rotating action.
The intraosseous needle assembly is used as follows:
An intraosseous needle 10 is firmly secured to a handle 50. The preferred site is marked and an incision is made in the skln down to the bone. The preferred slte 64 ls found by flrst ldentlfylng the tlblal tuberoslty 62 on the anterlor surface of the proxlmal tlbla. An lmaglnary llne ls drawn from the tlblal tuberoslty to the rnedlan edge of the tlbla 61. Thls llne ls e~ually dlvlded 63 and the slte of lnsertlon 64 ls perpendlcular and dlstal to 63. The preferred slte 64 lncreases ln dlstance from 63 wlth lncreaslng age. In the newborn or infant thls dlstance may be as short as 0.3 - 0.5 cm and lncreases to approxlmately 2.5 cm by 6 years of age. Insertlon at the level of the tlblal tuberoslty or dlstally, avolds lnsertlon of the needle lnto the growth place of the tlbla. The dlstal medlal tlbla ls also an excellent slte.
Wlth handle 50 flrmly ln the palm of the operator's hand, the needle ls selectively dlrected toward the deslred access slte 63 and contact wlth the bone ls made. A back and forth twlsting motlon wlth sllght pressure causes the four borlng edges 44-47 to cut lnto the bone and enables flutes 41 and 42 to penetrate to the threaded sectlon of needle 10. In other words, cutting edges 45 and 46 engage and cut into the bone when the needle ls rotated clockwlse, and cuttlng edges 44 and 47 engage and cut lnto the bone when the needle ls rotated counterclockwlse. Durlng the twlstlng rnotlon, flutes 41 and 42 carry bone fragments out of the hole. Once the lead thread 36 reaches the hole 60, no further pressure ls required. The operator slmply screws the needle clockwlse lnto the marrow to the deslred depth. Obvlously the size of the patient will determine how far to screw the needle in. As the needle is rotatably advanced, the deslgn of threads 15 dlrects the marrow out and away from slde lla Zn5l~t4 ports 33 and 34. A fluid injected through needle lO may then exit through side ports 33 and 34 unobstructed by marrow or other tissue which otherwise clogs conventional intraosseous needles.
With needle lO in the desired position, handle 50 may be detached from needle lO by slight, manually applied, tensile pressure therebetween. The appropriate drug administering mechanism such as a syringe or I.V. tubing may then be secured via the Luer-type fitting. After the patient has stabilized, venous access may be achieved and needle lO may be removed by detaching the I.V. tubing or syringe from needle lO and by re-securing handle 50 thereto. The needle may then be backed out by turning needle lO counterclockwise.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

Claims

1. An intraosseous needle comprising:
a one-piece shaft having an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end and a passageway extending from said proximal end toward said distal end;
said outer surface of said one-piece shaft being shaped to include a boring tip at said distal end that is capable of boring into bone when said boring tip is pressed against the bone and said shaft is twisted;
said outer surface of said one-piece shaft also being shaped to include a threaded portion that defines a helical ridgeline which is interrupted by said boring tip; and at least one side port through said outer surface in fluid communication with said passageway, said at least one side port being located in a valley between two adjacent threads of said threaded portion without significantly interrupting said helical ridgeline.

2. The intraosseous needle of claim 1 wherein said boring tip has a pointed tip and is capable of boring into bone when said shaft is turned about an axis defined by said shaft in both a clockwise direction and in a counterclockwise direction.

3. The intraosseous needle of claim 2 wherein said boring tip is solid and has at least two cutting edges, at least one of said at least two cutting edges is operable to cut into bone in said clockwise direction and at least one of said at least two cutting edges is operable to cut into bone in said counterclockwise direction.

4. The intraosseous needle of claim 3 wherein said boring tip has a pair of concave indentations which define said at least two cutting edges.

5. The intraosseous needle of claim 4 wherein said shaft has a plurality of threads, the thread nearest to said boring tip being a leading thread and wherein at least one of said indentations interrupts the leading thread.

6. The intraosseous needle of claim 5 wherein there are two side ports, each of which is located between two adjacent threads.

7. The intraosseous needle of claim 5 wherein said indentations define four cutting edges.

8. The intraosseous needle of claim 5 wherein each of said threads has a helix angle and a trailing angle, the trailing thread angle and helix angle being substantially equal.

9. The intraosseous needle of claim 5 wherein said pair of concave indentations create four cutting edges, two of said four cutting upon rotation in said clockwise direction and the other two of said four cutting edges for cutting upon rotation of said shaft in said counterclockwise direction.

10. An intraosseous needle assembly, comprising:
an intraosseous needle having a threaded shaft having first and second opposing ends and a passageway extending from said first end toward said second end, said second end having integrally formed thereon a boring means for initiating penetration of said shaft into bone, wherein said shaft has at least one opening proximal to said second end and in communication with said passageway, said at least one opening including a side port in fluid communication with said passageway and located proximally of said boring means, said at least one side port being located in a valley between two adjacent threads of said threaded shaft without significantly interrupting said helical ridgeline;
first coupling means at said first end for coupling with a gripping element; and a gripping element having a handle and second coupling means for coupling with said first coupling means.

11. The intraosseous needle assembly of claim 10 wherein said boring means has a pointed tip and is capable of boring into bone when said shaft is turned about an axis defined by said shaft in both a clockwise direction and in a counterclockwise direction.

12. The intraosseous needle assembly of claim 11 wherein said first and second coupling means both have mutually engageable torque transmitting means for transmitting torque between said gripping element and said needle.

13. The intraosseous needle assembly of claim 12 wherein said boring means is solid and has at least two cutting edges, at least one of said at least two cutting edges is operable to cut into bone in said clockwise direction and at least one of said at least two cutting edges is operable to cut into bone in said counterclockwise direction.

14. The intraosseous needle assembly of claim 13 wherein said shaft has a plurality of threads, including a leading thread proximal to said boring means, a second thread adjacent to the leading thread, and a third thread adjacent to the second thread, wherein said boring means has a pair of concave indentations which define said at least two cutting edges and wherein at least one of said indentations interrupts the leading thread.

15. The intraosseous needle assembly of claim 14 wherein there is a second side port in communication with the passageway and wherein said first side port is located between the leading thread and the second thread wherein said second side port is located between the second thread and the third thread, and wherein said first and second side ports are 90°
apart.

16. The intraosseous needle assembly of claim 15 wherein said torque transmitting means of said first coupling means is a generally cylindrical section having diametrically opposed and mutually parallel planar faces, and wherein said torque transmitting means of said second coupling means is a generally cylindrical central opening defining a pair of diametrically opposed and mutually parallel faces, said central opening sized to telescopically receive said generally cylindrical section.

17. The intraosseous needle assembly of claim 16 wherein said handle is on ovally shaped ball knob.

18. An intraosseous needle comprising a one-piece shaft having a longitudinal axis, a threaded portion, a proximal end, a distal end and a passageway extending from said proximal end partially toward said distal end, said shaft being rigid relative to bone; and said distal end being formed into a solid boring tip that includes at least one cutting edge capable of boring into bone when the needle is twisted about said longitudinal axis with said boring tip pressed against the bone; and said shaft including at least one side port in fluid communication with said passageway and located proximally of said boring tip, said at least one side port being located in a valley between two adjacent threads of said threaded portion without significantly interrupting said helical ridgeline.

19. The intraosseous needle of claim 18, wherein said boring tip has a pointed end.

20. The intraosseous needle of claim 19 wherein said boring tip includes a plurality of cutting edges.

21. An intraosseous needle, comprising:
a shaft having a plurality of thread portions integrally made thereon, first and second opposing ends and a passageway extending from said first end toward said second end, said second end having a pointed tip and a plurality of cutting edges for initiating penetration of said shaft into bone, said cutting edges originating from said pointed tip and extending a portion of said shaft;
wherein said shaft has at least one opening proximal to said second end and in communication with said passageway, said at least one opening located in a valley between two adjacent thread portions; and wherein said threads define a helical ridgeline, the beginning of said helical ridgeline coinciding at a point with one of said plurality of cutting edges, said point being distal from said pointed tip, said one of said cutting edges terminating at said point with said helical ridgeline, said helical ridgeline integral with said cutting edge and said shaft at said point.

22. The intraosseous needle of claim 21 wherein said shaft has first and second threads that are uninterrupted by said cutting edges, said at least one opening is a first side port located between said first and second threads.